Faculty Evaluation

1. Faculty Evaluation Faculty Workshop on Retention March, 2011 A Peer Reviewer’s Perspective

2. About Me • Tenured Professor (Architectural and Engineering Technology) – I’ve been through the process • Longevity – tenure-track since 1984, adjunct from 1980 to 1984 • Served on the University-wide Faculty Evaluation Committee since 1997 • Current Chair • Served on and/or chaired all sub-committees • Member of the Provost’s Task Force on Evaluation of Faculty Work for Promotion, Tenure, Post-tenure Review and Hiring

3. Review Cycle • Non-tenured Tenure-track faculty are reviewed for retention annually. • Standing for tenure is mandatory during the 4th year of service for faculty appointed to the rank of associate professor. • Standing for tenure is mandatory during the 7th year of service for faculty appointed to the rank of assistant professor.

4. 4th Year Comprehensive Review • Currently only required by UNAC. • Described as a diagnostic review to assess progress toward tenure and promotion.

5. Levels of Review • Extended Campus Director/President • Department Head/Chair • School or College Peer Review Committee • Dean or Director • University-wide Faculty Evaluation Committee • Provost • Chancellor* *Retention files only go to the Chancellor at the request of the faculty member.

6. About the University-wide Faculty Evaluation Committee • Fifteen members serving 3-year terms • Five each from the three workload categories – Tripartite Academic, Bipartite Academic, and Bipartite Vocational • Three sub-committees each representing a workload category. • Each sub-committee is comprised of three members of that workload category and one each from the other two categories.

7. Committee Responsibilities • Review the recommendations of the previous levels of review. • To compare the information in the candidate’s file with the appropriate criteria. • Review proposed changes to unit promotion and tenure guidelines. • Make recommendations to the Provost.

8. The Review • Regent’s policy on the evaluation of faculty describes the purpose of review as follows. • To appraise the extent to which the faculty member has met their professional obligation. • To appraise the extent to which the faculty member’s professional growth and development has proceeded. • To appraise the prospects for the faculty member’s continued professional growth and development. • To identify changes, if any, in emphasis required for such growth.

9. The Review • First I review the unit guidelines. • Then I read the previous levels of review. • Next I read the Vita and the Self Review. • Then I compare the Workloads with the Annual Activity Reports and the Student Evaluations. • Then I compare the different workload components with unit criteria.

10. UFEC Workload • UFEC reviews files from all schools and colleges, plus the extended campuses, for 4-year comprehensive review/ retention, promotion, tenure, 6-year post-tenure review, distinguished professor, and emeritus. • Each sub-committee meets every Friday from the beginning of Spring Semester in January until the 1st of March.

11. UFEC Workload • Each sub-committee meets until all the files in that workload category are reviewed. • The Tripartite Academic sub-committee usually has the largest workload (49 files this year). • Each week the sub-committees review between 5 and 10 files. • Each sub-committee member must read all the files for that week. • In addition, each member will be assigned one or two files for which they will be responsible for writing the Findings and Recommendations.

12. UFEC Workload • It’s a lot of work in a short amount of time. • The files are kept in a secure location at the Administration Building and are only available for review Monday – Friday from 8 to 5. • Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the process, and how it works. • The upshot? Make your file easy to review!

13. Find the Rules. • Obtain and carefullyread 4 documents • Chapter 4 of the Board of Regent’s Policy • Chapter III of the Faculty Handbook (UAA Policy) • The guidelines for your school or college • The Collective Bargaining Agreement for your union • Where can you find them? • The Faculty Services website

14. Important Notes Time in Rank • The current UAA Policy (Chapter III of the Faculty Handbook) has always allowed for exceptions to minimum time in rank, terminal degree, and experience qualifications. • In 2007, the Provost entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with UNAC that reinforced that fact. • The caveat is that “the basis for exception shall be outstanding academic performance and/or outstanding professional experience.”

15. Important Notes • The UNAC contract states that a faculty member who commences a 4th Year Review may not convert to a tenure or promotion review. • Also if a faculty member chooses to stand for promotion and tenure during the 4th year review period, the unit member may not withdraw the file from consideration at any step in the process.

16. Additional Thoughts • Don’t be afraid to brag. • Make sure you know the review period and only include information for that period. • Reviewers may not be from your discipline – be clear and go easy on the acronyms. • Reviewers are evaluating your file not you – make sure it’s all in there. • “Would you accept this file from one of your students?” What grade would it get?